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Earth is only 6000 years old?


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2011 Dec 9, 9:14am   59,501 views  207 comments

by uomo_senza_nome   ➕follow (0)   💰tip   ignore  

The wonderful thing about science is that it doesn't ask for your faith, it just asks for your eyes.

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130   Dan8267   2012 Jan 25, 11:22am  

After two months, pretty much everything has been said on this thread. The intelligent, rational people have shown extensive evidence that explains why we know the Earth is old and our species is descendant from apes, monkeys, and other small mammals. Meanwhile, the creationists have resorted to quoting their nonsense Bible. Time for this thread to die.

http://www.youtube.com/embed/x56O4G8VsiA

131   Bap33   2012 Jan 25, 2:45pm  

Dan8267 says

Adolph was a Christian.

nope. Adolph did not follow Christ's teachings. Plus, he did not follow God's teachings. 0 for 2.

132   Dan8267   2012 Jan 25, 10:41pm  

Bap33 says

Adolph did not follow Christ's teachings. Plus, he did not follow God's teachings. 0 for 2.

What "Christian" does?

133   leo707   2012 Jan 26, 1:38am  

Bap33 says

Dan8267 says

Adolph was a Christian.

nope. Adolph did not follow Christ's teachings. Plus, he did not follow God's teachings. 0 for 2.

Bap! We had this discussion a while back. If you remember correctly you were unable to come-up with any actions taken by Hitler that were incompatible with god's law.

If I get more time today I will look for the thread and post a link for your reference.

While everything Hitler did was justifiable through god's law, and the teachings of christ, I think we agreed that he was probably not actually a believing christian. He was a big supporter of christianity and endorsed it -- hell, he even encouraged (required?) his followers to go to christian churches. Remember that picture I posed of a catholic mass filled entirely by Hitler's brown-shirts?

134   Bap33   2012 Jan 26, 1:40am  

catholic is not christian ... for the ten billionth time.

135   Bap33   2012 Jan 26, 1:42am  

Dan8267 says

What "Christian" does?

That's a judgement for God to make. The plan for us living folks is to be Christian enough to be convicted of it in court - for example.

136   leo707   2012 Jan 26, 2:00am  

liv4ever says

thunderlips11 says

Liv, I'm glad you're accepting that the Firmament is from the noun form...

You make a good point about why people got these wrong ideas . Reason should always triumph over dogmatism, on both sides of the aisle.

Yes, reason should triumph, and that is the problem you are having. Your religious faith -- any religious belief -- is unreasonable yet you keep trying to use reason to understand it.

You keep "adding epicycles" in order to justify your beliefs, then when faced with ridiculous levels of irrefutable evidence -- thank god you are not a flat earther -- all the suddenly things become metaphor.

Having faith/belief/spirituality is fine and an large part of the human condition, but don't be fooled into thinking that any 100+ year old religious text is going to be a good guide for understanding the natural world.

I understand the need for reason and see that you are by nature a reasonable person. That need for reason is driving you to add all those epicycles, but forcing your religion to try and conform with reason makes you look unreasonable, and... well.. silly...

You are just going to have to let that go, and embrace your faith on a different level. If you need evidence to justify your faith, well then your faith is weak. Faith by definition exists in the absence of proof. Once something can be proven faith is no longer required.

137   leo707   2012 Jan 26, 2:04am  

Bap33 says

catholic is not christian ... for the ten billionth time.

Has it been ten billion already? Hmmm.. OK...

I am not sure if the Vatican has gotten the news yet though. When they get the news can they alter their dogma then petition you to become officially approved christians?

Anyway, catholicism was not the only christian based belief system endorsed by Hitler.

138   uomo_senza_nome   2012 Jan 26, 2:53am  

leoj707 says

Once something can be proven faith is no longer required.

+1. Well said.

Don't get me wrong: but the problem with liv4ever's posts are that they are large and extremely digressive. They don't end up making any point and are rather vague, tiring.

Just copying some biblical ramblings and trying to 'fit the prose to science' is a stupid approach to prove religion works. If that's the best a religion can come up with, then the religion is a waste of time

The purpose of the whole thread was to show that there's beauty in science that is unmatched by any faith whatsoever. I highly doubt that this purpose is achieved at all after these tedious nonsensical posts.

139   Bap33   2012 Jan 26, 6:50am  

proof? Who's proof? Proof is in the eyes of the beholder. That's why OJ got off the first time.

140   leo707   2012 Jan 26, 7:52am  

liv4ever says

wrong... blind faith is credulity.

I think that this is something that you and Dan can agree on.

liv4ever says

Faith is the assured expectation of things hoped for, the evident demonstration of realities though not beheld. Hebrews 11:1 NWT

Ohhhkaaayyy...

Faith is what assures and demonstrates "things hoped for" and "realities though not beheld" i.e. things/realities that have no evidence, faith does not have proof i.e. actually independently verifiable evidence.

I don't see how the passage changes anything I said related to faith and its relationship to verifiable evidence.

Gather every religion in the world and have them present their "evidence" -- and I use the word lightly here -- to an unbiased person, someone incapable of feeling true spiritual belief (yes, just as there are those able to feel profound belief, there are those than are unable to feel any spirituality what-so-ever i.e. probably like Dan). There is yet to be a religion that can present any proof more valid that any other religion's proof.

Perhaps your faith is blind and requires you to attempt to justify it with physical evidence. Perhaps you do not have that faith of a true believer, one who can feel god(s)/spirits with the core of there being and know they exist. One who as they pray/chant/meditate feels the power of the spirit world envelop them. These feelings can never be "proven" to another, but they create the faith that supports things hoped for and belief in a reality not beheld.

Belief without this internal knowledge is truly blind faith.

I wish you luck in your struggle.

Justify your belief with faith from within... Let go of your expectations of external "proof"... And of course don't worry so much about what others think.

141   leo707   2012 Jan 26, 8:14am  

uomo_senza_nome says

The purpose of the whole thread was to show that there's beauty in science that is unmatched by any faith whatsoever. I highly doubt that this purpose is achieved at all after these tedious nonsensical posts.

Ugg... yes tedious for sure...

What I find beautiful about science is that it is truth for all, regardless of religion. In that way it certainly is unmatched by any faith.

Religion and science do not have to be incompatible. Only certain dogmas make themselves incompatible with science.

I don't think we will ever "get rid of religion". It is too ingrained within our psyche. We must learn how to live with that part of who we are as humans. As our scientific knowledge grows -- and it will -- more and more literal interpretations of religion will become metaphor. We are probably generations away from it, but one day religions will cease in their attempts to explain our physical world and will become purely internal pursuits, without needing to try and justify its self to the rest of the world.

142   uomo_senza_nome   2012 Jan 26, 9:24am  

leoj707 says

Ugg... yes tedious for sure...

LOL, I did not mean all posts are nonsensical. Some of them really are, I can't even read them.

leoj707 says

Religion and science do not have to be incompatible. Only certain dogmas make themselves incompatible with science.

Depends on how much you are affected by your religion. You see, some religions are *only* dogmas. And there are numerous examples Dan has shown that these religions have had a direct harmful impact on mankind.

leoj707 says

I don't think we will ever "get rid of religion". It is too ingrained within our psyche.

I disagree. That's like saying you need faith to survive. No you don't. Science doesn't ask for your faith, it asks for your curiosity.
Imagine how many brighter minds we could have if everyone was curious and were not satisfied with fairies in the sky!

leoj707 says

We must learn how to live with that part of who we are as humans.

We can be metaphorical, explore arts and music as much as we explore science without any religion. The universe is wondrous by itself.

leoj707 says

religions will cease in their attempts to explain our physical world and will become purely internal pursuits, without needing to try and justify its self to the rest of the world.

Internal pursuits can be done without attributing to religion. You don't need to be religious to be introspective. I don't see a need for it at all.

143   Dan8267   2012 Jan 26, 11:11am  

liv4ever says

Dan8267 says

Unicorns ? (in the drawing) Numbers 23:22

not so, fast Dan the Man ...

And that is what you got out from the cartoon? The point is that the so called Christian was willing to accept the most ridiculous things in the Bible as the literal truth except the one important thing: giving up all of your possessions and giving all your money to the poor. You know, stuff that would actually be a sacrifice.

144   Dan8267   2012 Jan 27, 12:33am  

liv4ever says

By the way, no one is asking to give up your stuff to the poor, most of us are getting poorer by the day, as the American standard of living continues to rapidly decline. These comments were directed at "a rich young ruler".

You forget, I know this shit. The comment about giving up your worldly possessions to follow god is repeated many times in the Bible and by Jesus. It is directed towards everyone. That's why Christian philosophy is incompatible with capitalism. You can't follow Jesus and Gordon Gecko at the same time, but that is exactly what the Christian right thinks you should do.

145   freak80   2012 Jan 27, 2:22am  

liv4ever says

chapter and verse please?

Liv,

You've never seen those passages??? Do you ever consider reading the Gospels rather than trying to make predictions based on the Old Testament?

146   leo707   2012 Jan 27, 2:22am  

uomo_senza_nome says

Depends on how much you are affected by your religion. You see, some religions are *only* dogmas. And there are numerous examples Dan has shown that these religions have had a direct harmful impact on mankind.

You get no disagreement with me there.

uomo_senza_nome says

I disagree. That's like saying you need faith to survive. No you don't. Science doesn't ask for your faith, it asks for your curiosity.
Imagine how many brighter minds we could have if everyone was curious and were not satisfied with fairies in the sky!

Hmm... let me clarify a bit...

Yes, individuals don't need faith to survive. However, as a species a majority of us seem compelled by a feeling of the supernatural. I don't think that all the reason in the world will make this go away.

Even people who can feel the faeries existence can be compelled by other curiosities, but some seem to have a great difficulty reconciling science with their religion. I think that as dogmas evolve this cognitive dissonance will be reduced and the harmful effects of religions (yes, today they are significant) will be mitigated.

uomo_senza_nome says

We can be metaphorical, explore arts and music as much as we explore science without any religion. The universe is wondrous by itself.

I totally agree... but... when I say "who we are as humans" I mean everybody. Those that have "true faith" will always be around, and if not in a majority probably close. While I understand that the universe in itself can be wondrous without the need for anything supernatural, what is to be done all those people who know in their bones that the supernatural world exists?

uomo_senza_nome says

I don't see a need for it at all.

Right, you don't see a need, but for others it is not a matter of need or not need. They feel the spiritual.

147   freak80   2012 Jan 27, 2:27am  

Dan8267 says

You can't follow Jesus and Gordon Gecko at the same time

Agree, but is the Christian Right really enamored with Capitalism? I thought they voted Republican primarily because of social issues, not because of economic ones. Indeed, there's a major rift in the Republican party between the Social Conservatives and the Money-Libertarian-Ayn Rand Conservatives. They are united only by their dislike of Democrats. It's a coalition that's breaking up as we speak, I think.

148   uomo_senza_nome   2012 Jan 27, 3:07am  

leoj707 says

However, as a species a majority of us seem compelled by a feeling of the supernatural. I don't think that all the reason in the world will make this go away.

My point is -- there is NOTHING supernatural.

You see, atheists see the problem with this "compulsive feeling" of the supernatural. How compulsive is this feeling? Depending on the nature and extent of this compulsion, the individual can be inclined to bind others into these compulsions as well.

Religions grow stronger because people who are inclined to believe in "compulsive feelings" tend to flock in groups. When societies start acting dangerously (say killing other people), then we have a problem because this compulsive feeling is a dangerous delusion. Not all religions go about killing other people, but you see -- these religious sects are based in nature, not the supernatural. E.g, Buddhism.

"Science can explain the Universe without the need for a creator" - Stephen Hawking.

leoj707 says

what is to be done all those people who know in their bones that the supernatural world exists?

LOL, that is my point. Those are delusions and Science can eliminate them with reason.

leoj707 says

They feel the spiritual.

Spiritual doesn't have to be supernatural, that is all.

149   freak80   2012 Jan 27, 5:14am  

Liv,

Dan was talking about those passages where Christ says to give up all worldly possessions. Are you on drugs?

You make the case for atheism with your every post.

150   leo707   2012 Jan 27, 6:34am  

uomo_senza_nome says

My point is -- there is NOTHING supernatural.

There is indeed no independently verifiable evidence that anything supernatural exists.

uomo_senza_nome says

"Science can explain the Universe without the need for a creator" - Stephen Hawking.

I agree, there is no explanation including a creator that is more convincing than science.

uomo_senza_nome says

LOL, that is my point. Those are delusions and Science can eliminate them with reason.

With some -- perhaps but for a large percentage of the population no amount of reason can convince them otherwise. Perhaps as science gains more knowledge and religion is forced farther away from explanations of the physical world some more will be convinced through reason. However, that innate "sense" of god(s) existence is very unlikely to go away.

uomo_senza_nome says

Spiritual doesn't have to be supernatural, that is all.

Hmmm.. Huummm.. let's not get too bogged down in semantics. When I say spiritual I am using it as a synonym to supernatural. Yes, you can have spirituality with out god(s), but I think it usually indicates something incorporeal/unsubstantial, i.e. something not measurable by science.

uomo_senza_nome says

Religions grow stronger because people who are inclined to believe in "compulsive feelings" tend to flock in groups. When societies start acting dangerously (say killing other people), then we have a problem because this compulsive feeling is a dangerous delusion. Not all religions go about killing other people, but you see -- these religious sects are based in nature, not the supernatural. E.g, Buddhism.

Yes, the religious compulsion can be very dangerous. I hope that more benign religions evolve in the future. Buddhism however can be very supernatural, and it is not benign by nature. I have however known those that practice Buddhism in a very "secular" fashion.

151   Dan8267   2012 Jan 27, 7:21am  

leoj707 says

uomo_senza_nome says

My point is -- there is NOTHING supernatural.

There is indeed no independently verifiable evidence that anything supernatural exists.

By definition, there can be no evidence for anything supernatural. By the laws of physics, there can be no interaction between the supernatural and the natural for such an interaction would by definition be natural and subject to all the laws of physics. As such, it could be verified and measured simply by its physical properties.

For example, if a ghost pushes a cue ball, then the kinetic energy imparted on the ball could be measured and traced back to its source. The conversion of some form of energy into kinetic energy would be observable and would obey the laws of physics.

Another example, if someone actually saw a ghost, the photons would also be subject to the laws of physics. The bottom line is that any interaction between so-called supernatural entities and natural entities would in effect drag those supernatural entities into the natural world and subject them to scientific verification and measurement. As this does not happen, all interactions with the supernatural is bullshit. As all interactions with the supernatural is bullshit, there is no reason to think that such entities even exist.

Physics leaves no room for the supernatural.

152   uomo_senza_nome   2012 Jan 27, 7:37am  

leoj707 says

However, that innate "sense" of god(s) existence is very unlikely to go away.

Probably not, but Science is humanity's best shot at progress.

"All truth passes through three stages: First it is ridiculed, Second it is violently opposed, Third it is accepted as being self-evident." Arthur Schopenhauer

leoj707 says

When I say spiritual I am using it as a synonym to supernatural.

Okay, then the word spiritual is also BS.

leoj707 says

I hope that more benign religions evolve in the future.

I hope that more and more people realize that religion as an idea has caused irreparable damage to humanity. Then they'll start using their brains more to understand natural and physical laws. This would mean that they would become free thinkers.

leoj707 says

Buddhism however can be very supernatural, and it is not benign by nature.

I don't see Buddhism as a violent philosophy. Why would you say it is not benign by nature? Religion by its very definition can take faith as proof, so for that matter - no religion that I know of is entirely based on natural laws.

They all vary to the degree of supernatural explanations, but some of the key Buddhist practices have been studied by neuroscience and are known to help humans. (specifically conditions like depression)

153   Dan8267   2012 Jan 27, 7:59am  

uomo_senza_nome says

Science is humanity's best shot at progress.

Best? Only.

All social and political progress has been preceded by scientific or technological advancement from the abolition of the church (printing press), to the abolition of kings (enlightenment), to the abolition of slavery (railroads and newspapers), to the woman's suffrage movement (radio), to the civil rights movement (tv) and the anti-war movement (tv), to the Arab spring (Internet).

Scientific and technological progress promotes social and political progress.

154   Dan8267   2012 Jan 27, 8:01am  

uomo_senza_nome says

leoj707 says

When I say spiritual I am using it as a synonym to supernatural.

Okay, then the word spiritual is also BS.

I find that when people use the word spiritual, they really mean "emotional and important".

Claim: I had a spiritual experience.
Translation: I had an emotional and important experience.

155   Dan8267   2012 Jan 27, 8:06am  

uomo_senza_nome says

leoj707 says

I hope that more benign religions evolve in the future.

I hope that more and more people realize that religion as an idea has caused irreparable damage to humanity. Then they'll start using their brains more to understand natural and physical laws. This would mean that they would become free thinkers.

Yes, why do we need religion at all? Can't we have philosophy without it? Can't we discuss morality without the chains of irrationality? Wouldn't such a discussion be better and more productive?

You don't need myths, gods, magic, an afterlife, and false history to create a socially just system of morality. In fact, all those things hamper the ability to get this job done. I wouldn't build a bridge based on myths, why would I build morality based on myths? Morality, ethics, software, bridges, nuclear reactors, and space craft should all be designed the same way: with perfect reason, accurate facts and measurements, and the complete absence of error.

God does not exist because we haven't created it yet!

156   Bap33   2012 Jan 27, 2:18pm  

Dan,
I do not think morality existed until God showed man that Right and Wrong existed, and created morality. And immorality.

"Afterlife" is all about your life-force (soul). And the energy that is your soul came from the universe (God) and will never stop being. Ever.

157   freak80   2012 Jan 27, 3:44pm  

Dan,

Are you saying it's possible to construct morality with physics? If so, why hasn't anyone figured it out yet? Why haven't you figured it out yet since you're so much smarter than the rest of us?

Physics can design a handgun, it can't say whether it's "right" or "wrong" to use it to blow someone's head off.

All morality is subjective/opinion/emotion based.

Of course you say that YOUR morality is the correct one. Just like everybody else says THEIR morality is the correct one.

158   marcus   2012 Jan 28, 12:50am  

leoj707 says

I don't think we will ever "get rid of religion". It is too ingrained within our psyche. We must learn how to live with that part of who we are as humans. As our scientific knowledge grows -- and it will -- more and more literal interpretations of religion will become metaphor. We are probably generations away from it, but one day religions will cease in their attempts to explain our physical world and will become purely internal pursuits, without needing to try and justify its self to the rest of the world.

uomo_senza_nome says

I disagree. That's like saying you need faith to survive. No you don't. Science doesn't ask for your faith, it asks for your curiosity.
Imagine how many brighter minds we could have if everyone was curious and were not satisfied with fairies in the sky!

leoj707 says

We must learn how to live with that part of who we are as humans.

We can be metaphorical, explore arts and music as much as we explore science without any religion. The universe is wondrous by itself.

I agree with Leo here, but you both make good points.

About Buddhism,
leoj707 says

Buddhism however can be very supernatural, and it is not benign by nature. I have however known those that practice Buddhism in a very "secular" fashion.

I think this last comment represents many millions of Buddhists, including the branch of Zen Buddhists where it's mostly about meditation. And the Buddha is seen as a human who figured out the path.

This guy is interesting,

http://www.youtube.com/embed/eRutmoPEWaQ

I enjoyed this talk. He has an interesting definition of God, although I think I lean a bit more toward the supernatural (not the right term though) than he. I think.

His definition of God is nearly Atheistic, although he seems to believe that there are beings out there, but not a supernatural all powerful God.

159   marcus   2012 Jan 28, 1:14am  

marcus says

he seems to believe that there are beings out there,

Actually, listening to it again, I don't think he's saying that, but rather that it's what the ancient sutras say. ( i know, some will say, therefore he must believe that.) I'm not so sure.

160   Dan8267   2012 Jan 28, 4:16am  

Bap33 says

I do not think morality existed until God showed man that Right and Wrong existed, and created morality.

If god created evil then god is evil and therefore not a god in anything but power. Certainly not a god whose moral judgement you could trust.

So, if god didn't say murder was bad, it would be morally ok to kill babies? Sorry, but by any reasonable worldview, morality, not god must be a priori.

161   Dan8267   2012 Jan 28, 4:27am  

wthrfrk80 says

Are you saying it's possible to construct morality with physics?

Everything is constructed from physics. Life is built on chemistry, which in turn is built out of atoms that obey the laws of physics.

wthrfrk80 says

If so, why hasn't anyone figured it out yet?

Plenty of people have figured this out. Just because you have not heard of a concept, does not mean that others haven't discussed it or published works about it.

The Origins of Virtual by Matt Ridley

And there are many other books on the subject matter you can pursue on Amazon's similar product list for this book.

wthrfrk80 says

Why haven't you figured it out yet since you're so much smarter than the rest of us?

Am I suppose to be insulted because you are being sarcastic or that you consider intelligence to be a detriment? In either case, you are being a dumb brat and illustrating exactly why no one should respect your opinion.

I'd respect you more if you stopped being petulant and start listening to people who have knowledge to share with you.

wthrfrk80 says

All morality is subjective/opinion/emotion based.

Now, there's the heart of the issue. Is morality absolute or relative? I'd answer that but this thread has already ran its course. I'll discuss that issue in a new thread. But here's a hint: both camps are wrong.

wthrfrk80 says

Of course you say that YOUR morality is the correct one.

Exactly when and where did I say that? Why are the petulant always so incapable of getting even basic facts correct?

162   uomo_senza_nome   2012 Jan 28, 7:02am  

wthrfrk80 says

Are you saying it's possible to construct morality with physics?

Yes. Neuroscience can offer wonderful answers to questions of morality and ethics.

Without the existence of the brain, there is no morality.

wthrfrk80 says

If so, why hasn't anyone figured it out yet?

Interesting questions are being asked and scientific findings have given insights like never before.

Here's the amazon link.

wthrfrk80 says

All morality is subjective/opinion/emotion based.

Yes, but the structure of the human brain is the same for all humans on earth. We all experience the same emotions (greed/fear/passion/etc.) so pretty much, the chemical processes of the brain are involved in human emotion -- therefore universal.

163   freak80   2012 Jan 28, 9:10am  

Dan8267 says

Am I suppose to be insulted because you are being sarcastic or that you consider intelligence to be a detriment? In either case, you are being a dumb brat and illustrating exactly why no one should respect your opinion.

I'd respect you more if you stopped being petulant and start listening to people who have knowledge to share with you.

I'd respect you more if you weren't so arrogant. You arrogance is on display for all to see.

164   Bap33   2012 Jan 28, 9:31am  

Dan8267 says

Bap33 says



I do not think morality existed until God showed man that Right and Wrong existed, and created morality.


If god created evil then god is evil and therefore not a god in anything but power. Certainly not a god whose moral judgement you could trust.


So, if god didn't say murder was bad, it would be morally ok to kill babies? Sorry, but by any reasonable worldview, morality, not god must be a priori.

God created evil. No doubt. God isn't evil, anymore than he is a duck. God created all matter and all energy. God created light. But, in creating light, darkness is created. That's just how it has to be. The choice of good and evil came long before man was created. Free choice was already tried and having issues with the creations in heaven when man was created.

As far as moral judgement, who better to judge right and wrong than the creator of both? And, even better, God judges the soul, the heart, the inner desires, not the physical actions or verbalized professions. That is a little different than you will find in most of the false religions, including the religion of atheism. lol

God made murder bad long long long before he ever told Moses to chip it into stone and share it with all of the Nation of Isreal. Murder is just an extention of evil, and evil was already a long-time resident of the universe by the time Cain murdered Abel.

wthrfrk80 says

I'd respect you more if you weren't so arrogant. You arrogance is on display for all to see.

Dan,
I respect wthrfrk80's opinion, but I happen to enjoy your arrogance and quick whit. It exposes you in a way that forces you to defend your position, and that is worthy of note. I tend to see it like this, if someone is a cocky prick, then they better back it up. You do. Since you do, I tip my hat.

165   Dan8267   2012 Jan 28, 11:41am  

wthrfrk80 says

I'd respect you more if you weren't so arrogant. You arrogance is on display for all to see.

Never confuse disdain for arrogance. It's not that I have a high opinion of me. It's that I have a low opinion of you.

166   Dan8267   2012 Jan 28, 11:51am  

Bap33 says

if someone is a cocky prick, then they better back it up.

True, there is nothing wrong with someone being arrogant if they can back it up.

However, arrogance is an emotion, and the vast majority of my writings on this website have been devoid of emotion even when discussing things like science vs. evolution.

In fact, the only emotions I have expressed in any of my writings are:
1. Humor everywhere
2. Anger at social injustices such as human and civil rights violations.
3. Disgust at people who make deliberately deceitful or disingenuous arguments like Obama being born in Kenya or expressing false outrage at something trivial.
4. Disbelief if someone makes a batshit crazy argument that they actually believe in like Obama being born in Kenya. And yes, the birther argument can be either disingenuous or batshit crazy. You have to read more of what the person is saying to determine which it is.

But other than those four things, my arguments are always logical, factual, objective, and unemotional.

I think lesser minds -- and by that I mean the emotionally immature -- confuse confidence in an objective argument with arrogance. I can have absolute confidence in a proof that the square root of two is irrational. That isn't arrogance. It's understanding.

167   Dan8267   2012 Jan 28, 12:08pm  

marcus says

This guy is interesting,

I don't know much about Buddhism, but from the video posted it seems to be as mired in mystical bullshit as all other religions even though it shrugged off deities.

For example, the monk claims that the mind is not a product of the brain, but all material reality exists only as a construct of the mind. This is, of course, completely backwards and all the evidence in the universe supports that the brain is entirely responsible for the mind. Neuroscience demonstrates this in incredible detail.

And, in fact, it is extremely important that the brain is the mind. When something goes wrong with the brain either through physical or chemical damage, the only way to repair the mind and restore it to health is to fix the brain. The medical ramifications alone are sufficient to reject the monk's claim that the mind exists independently of the brain.

168   Dan8267   2012 Jan 28, 12:18pm  

A little farther into that video, the monk talks about how much sense it makes that there were many big bangs.

Certainly, The Big Crunch Theory is appealing on an emotional level. We humans are programmed to love cycles. They make us feel warm and safe since cycles are a way to get around mortality. Sure, we die, but if the world or universe is just going through cycles, we'll be back.

When astrophysicists were trying to determine whether or not there was sufficient mass in the universe to cause the expansion to stop and reverse -- back in the 1990s -- I, like just about everyone else, was rooting for the Big Crunch.

However, in 1998 it was proven that the expansion of the universe will not only continue indefinitely, but is actually accelerating. This was a complete shock. Nobody, and I mean, nobody expected that. But the evidence was conclusive. And that's what science does: it accepts the truth no matter how unexpected.

Regardless of how much I personally wanted the Big Crunch Theory to be correct, as a rational human being I had to accept that our universe isn't going through an endless cycles of Big Bangs and Big Crunches. No, our universe is unique and it will die. It will become a lifeless void and there's not a damn thing that you or I can do about it.

That said, it will take trillions of years to exit the stellar period so party like crazy until then!

Now, it is plausible that there are other Big Bangs in a Multiverse system, but that is still conjecture at this point. Universes wouldn't go through cycles in such a multiverse. Instead, new universes would be created every few hundred trillion years and after a few trillion years they would become lifeless sacks of space-time.

Would it be possible or practical for a highly advanced society to travel between universe? Who knows. It's conjecture anyway. For now, we should be more concerned about not fucking up this planet.

169   marcus   2012 Jan 28, 2:18pm  

You're too nice Bap. But then again, I guess you made your point.

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